Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob isn’t ruling out a roster shake-up after securing forward Jonathan Kuminga on a new, trade-friendly contract — a move that gives the franchise flexibility to chase another title before Stephen Curry’s window closes.
Warriors Eye Trade Market Options
“We’re always going to be looking at improving the team — always,” Lacob said on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard. “And whether that’s a big trade or a small trade depends on whether we do a trade at all, or if there’s a trade available, and depends on how healthy the team is and how it’s doing. So this is something that happens in real time. We have to see where we’re at and plan for different things to happen — some will, some won’t.”
Kuminga’s new two-year, $48.5 million contract includes a team option, making him one of Golden State’s most valuable trade chips. His $22.5 million salary can now anchor a potential blockbuster deal, and with four tradable first-round picks, the Warriors have the assets to pursue a star-level player if the opportunity arises.
Over the past two seasons, Golden State has explored deals for Lauri Markkanen, Paul George, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant — a clear sign of Lacob’s win-now mindset.
“I was on the phone yesterday, actually with somebody — not Mike [Dunleavy Jr.] but somebody in our basketball group — and I was going through literally team by team, every player in the league,” Lacob said. “This is when we start doing that on our side of things. Not that we think we need to make trades, but we could wind up being great this year and not need to do anything. On the other hand, we need to be prepared for the situation where that’s not the case.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo Remains ‘Dream Target’
While Lacob did not name specific players, multiple reports have indicated that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Warriors’ “dream trade target.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently said the league is bracing for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar to possibly request a trade next summer if the Bucks underperform.
Golden State has long been one of the NBA’s most aggressive franchises in pursuit of elite talent, and Kuminga’s deal — along with Draymond Green’s and Andrew Wiggins’ movable contracts — gives them multiple pathways to pull off another blockbuster.
Aging Core Still Built to Compete
In the meantime, Lacob doubled down on his faith in the Warriors’ veteran core. The team added 39-year-old Al Horford this offseason to complement Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler, aiming to build on the strong second half that revived their playoff hopes last season.
“We’re always going to want to try to be as good as we can possibly be,” Lacob said. “We’re trying to win championships here. And at the very least, we want to be in competition to try to win championships. Maybe we’re not going to be the best team, but we want to at least have a shot.”
Maximizing Stephen Curry’s Championship Window
At 37, Curry remains one of the NBA’s top 10 players, ranked No. 7 by ESPN entering the 2025-26 season. Lacob acknowledged the Warriors are operating with a two-year championship window — the tail end of Curry’s prime. Their franchise star has often talked about wanting to spend his remaining years playing “meaningful basketball.”
“It was no surprise to me at all,” Lacob said of Curry’s mindset. “I talk to Steph all the time. He’s just like me, and just like Mike [Dunleavy]. We want to win, and we want to be playing for meaningful things. We don’t want to be sitting around worrying about which lottery pick we’re going to get. That’s just not something he wants to do at this point in his life — nor do I.”
Despite the challenges of aging stars and a competitive Western Conference, Lacob remains confident.
“It’s a lot of pressure to continue to try to be really good,” he said. “But that’s the way we’re built. All of us in this organization — it’s the way we think.”
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